Welcome to the MNDRA research update. In this report we will highlight outcomes and advances from the MND research world that have caught our attention over the last few weeks.
The PBAC has recommended the listing of Edaravone (RADICAVA) on the PBS for treatment of ALS in patients who are independent in activities of daily living and where treatment is initiated within two years of disease onset. This provides an additional treatment option for those patients who fall within the criteria.
Teva, the company partnering with the manufacturers, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, are currently finalising financial and supply details with the PBAC and we hope RADICAVA will be available by 2025.
Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response. A body–brain circuit that regulates body inflammatory responses – a study published in Nature just this week has shown how the brain senses and response to immune signals from other parts of the body.
It has been known for a while that the brain is a key component of the immune system. In very clever studies in mice, the researchers from the Howard Hughes Institute in New York, showed there are different neurons in the brain that responds to pro-inflammatory signals and anti-inflammatory signals.
These neurons monitor and regulate the immune response. Genetic silencing of this body-to-brain circuit produced unregulated and out-of-control inflammatory responses.
By contrast, activating, rather than silencing, this circuit affords exceptional neural control of immune responses. This might be relevant to MND as neuroinflammation is often a feature of MND and finding new ways to regulate this inflammation may be critical to slowing down progression.
